Socceroos slump to disappointing draw with Thailand in FIFA World Cup Qualifier

By Dominic Bossi

Ange Postecoglou's constant response to anyone from critics, doubters and even those questioning the Socceroos' ability is simply to just watch them play. If their lacklustre performance against Thailand was anything to go by then perhaps the honeymoon could be over for the 2015 Asian Champions.

Australia's hopes of making the 2018 World Cup in Russia were dealt a setback after slumping to a 2-2 draw away to Thailand that left the Socceroos criticising their own determination. It was a result that flattered the visitors and questioned whether a sense of complacency could be creeping into a side that had become accustomed to winning comfortably in Asia.

All the talk from the Socceroos leading into the game was about their ability to match an attractive performance with a pleasing result, despite coming up against another lesser team happy to sit back and park the bus.

Though, what happened inside the Rajamangala on Tuesday night was the exact opposite to their forecast as Australia saved their worst performance in this round of qualifiers for their match against the supposed weakest nation in the group, and the latter would have felt aggrieved not to have taken all three points.

Teerasil Dengda of Thailand tackles the Socceroos' Aaron Mooy during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier.

Photo: Getty Images

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"Credit to the Thai team. It was a big occasion for them and they played well," Postecoglou said. "We started well, we just didn't control the game like we wanted to and ended up playing a game that suited them more than us."

Australia's third game without a win left their hopes of playing in a fourth consecutive World Cup in the balance after falling outside of the automatic qualification zone to third on the table, despite being still yet to lose a match. Japan leapfrogged Australia in the congested Group B table after beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 in the earlier match.

Two penalties from captain Mile Jedinak prevented Australia from losing to a country which lost every previous game in this round of qualifiers and had it not been for those two chances from 12-yards, it was hard to see how else Australia was going to find the back of the net.

The first of Australia's two clear-cut chances simply raised further questions over the Socceroos after Matthew Leckie only increased the criticism surrounding his poor scoring record for the national team. Just 20 seconds into the match and the Ingolstadt striker spurned a one-on-one with goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan, who began to pray on the ground as the chants of "Thailand, Thailand," echoed across the Rajamangala.

Success story: Socceroos' captain Mile Jedinak.

Photo: Getty Images

The passionate crowd created a fervent anxiety that caused a series of nervous moments in defence for Australia. Deafening roars hoping for mistakes rendered the Socceroos' ability play out of the defence hapless, as yet another poor start for the Socceroos seemed to be on the cards.

Thailand's Prathum Chutong blocked a shot on goal with his arm, giving the referee no option but to point to the spot. For all the jitters the opening stanza, Australia's captain lead by example with remarkable composure, stepping up to the spot to pierce the tension by stroking his penalty straight down the middle

Teerasil Dengda celebrates with his team.

Photo: Getty Images.

However, the confidence of taking the lead failed to plug a porous backline. Thailand probed through at will and in the 20th minutes, finally broke through. Playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin split the Socceroos' backline with a slide-rule pass to find his winger Tristan Do in support. Australia did little but watch Teerasil Dangda slot home the equaliser give the Thai's hope of a shock result a day after the mourning period for the death of their King.

Even if Postecoglou tore into his players at half-time, it failed to change much after the restart as Thailand were on course for an upset against the Asian Champions 12 minutes later. The referee pointed to the spot after Leckie was ruled to have fouled Theerathon Bunhamathan inside the box and Dangda made no mistake, sending the crowd of over 40,000 into delirium.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou at the post match press conference.

Photo: Getty Images

Kawin pulled-off a superb reflex save to deny Jedinak a second, after the Socceroos' captain fired a powerful header into the corner before Thailand's ascendancy came crashing down to earth when Australia were awarded gifted a fortuitous chance to draw level. Siroch Chatthong was ruled to have pulled Jedinak's shirt inside the box and while the hosts felt slightly aggrieved, Jedinak remained calm and composed as he thumped his second penalty into the corner of the net after the hour-mark.

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Though, Australia's backline that began the match as disjointed never strengthened even by the dying minutes and a brilliant save from Mat Ryan to deny a one-on-one with Siroch spared their blushes. Had it not been for that moment of brilliance, a poor night in Bangkok would have ended in embarrassment for a team already talking at will about what they intend to do in Russia before getting there.

"We got careless in possession, particularly in the front third. We got into good areas and ended up giving the ball away cheaply and they could hit us on the counter-attack," Postecoglou said.